The MX-3 has become a bit of a cult car, with boy racers worldwide souping them up to play The Fast and the Furious in them. Which is why auto journalist Lesley Wimbush’s search for an immaculate MX-3 took several years. But she, too, wanted to modify the MX-3, and use it not just for daily driving, but also as a track car. Luckily, her friend James Mewett, an aeronautical engineer — and fellow keen Mazda fan (between them they’ve owned 15 Mazdas) — made space in one of his hangars so they could work on the restoration project together. Lately, Lesley and James have been very busy: the MX-3 now has a 2.5L, 200hp KLZE engine, new leather seat coverings and parts have been bead-blasted to their original sheen. It won’t be long before the car’s on the road. Watch out kids…